Today’s quick review: Predator. Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) leads a team of commandos into the jungle on a dangerous mission to rescue the victims of a helicopter crash. The mission runs into unexpected complications, but eventually the team wraps up its mission and heads to its extraction point. Before they can be picked up, however, they encounter an unexpected foe: an invisible stalker who is using alien technology to pick them off one by one. Their mission turns into a primal struggle for survival as the team looks for a way to fight an enemy that could be anywhere at any time.
Predator is a tight sci-fi survival film that makes use of the best aspects of the serious action movies of the 80s. Arnold Schwarzenegger makes for a capable protagonist, with guts and resourcefulness to spare. His compatriots are no slouches either, although the pressure of the situation tests even their steely resolve. While the team has its internal drama, much of it is shelved in favor of survival when the Predator appears, paving the way for a film of gunfire, traps, and desperate gambits with just enough character drama to make the stakes clear.
Predator is a classic that any fans of the action or sci-fi genres should watch. The film delivers on an interesting premise and wastes little time on fluff. The plot is typical for a survival film, with the main characters getting picked off or surviving according their luck and skill, but the quality of premise and execution set it apart. The Predator itself has an interesting design, and while the special effects are dated, they still manage to be effective. The film does have plenty of blood and a few moments of anticipation, so those looking for a light action film should look elsewhere. Predator is a film that does one thing and does it well. Watch it when you are in the mood for a tense action flick.
7.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for a strong, straightforward premise and tight execution.